Joe Biden sets immigration meeting

Vice President Joe Biden is convening a private meeting Thursday with immigration reform advocates, according to two people familiar with the invitations.

Those planning to assemble for the afternoon discussion with Biden at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building include Jim Wallis, the president and founder of Sojourners; representatives from the agriculture industry such as the Western Growers Association and the Farm Bureau; law enforcement officials; and the National Immigration Forum.

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The meeting comes at a critical moment for immigration reform. The issue, long on life support, was largely declared dead with the defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) in his primary race earlier this month. Friday marks one year since the Senate passed a sweeping reform bill with 68 votes, yet no bills have moved in the House – and the Obama administration has been under pressure from liberal activists to act unilaterally on deportations.

The meeting was not listed on Biden’s public schedule, which was released Wednesday evening. A spokeswoman for Biden did not return an email seeking comment about the meeting on Wednesday.